UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Maharashtra govt. tables controversial anti-conversion Bill
Q1. Under the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, an unlawful conversion attracts the aggravated penalty of imprisonment up to 7 years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh when the converted person belongs to certain categories. Consider the following categories:
1. A minor
2. A woman
3. A person belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe
4. A senior citizen above 60 years of age
Which of the above are correctly identified as categories attracting the aggravated penalty?
- A minor
- A woman
- A person belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe
- A senior citizen above 60 years of age
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q2. In the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the stated objective of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026 — to protect freedom of religion and prohibit unlawful conversions — was articulated by which of the following office-holders?
- A. Minister of State for Home, Pankaj Bhoyar
- B. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
- C. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
- D. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Q3. Under the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, what is the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed for a repeat offender convicted of unlawful religious conversion?
- A. 5 years
- B. 7 years
- C. 10 years
- D. 14 years
Q4. In the context of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, the mandatory '60-day notice' requirement refers precisely to which one of the following?
- A. The advance notice a person intending to convert must give to the designated authority before the conversion takes place
- B. The period within which a completed conversion must be registered with the authority, failing which it is void
- C. A mandatory cooling-off period that must elapse after an interfaith marriage before it is recognised
- D. The time limit within which a blood relative must file a complaint after a conversion